GCWR vs GVWR question
I know the weight topic has been beat to death on this forum, but I may have just come to a realization and after searching, I can't find the answer to my question. The weight capacities of my TV and...
Forum Discussion
Not sure where you got the idea of GCWR being what you can stop. The brakes on your truck are designed to stop your truck, not the trailer too. Your truck brakes are designed to stop the truck at GVWR or the weight rating of the axles. The trailer has it's own brakes to stop it. Weight is weight no matter if hauling gravel or towing a trailer. There is no way your truck brakes are designed to stop 23,000 lbs any more then my Ranger's brakes are designed to stop 9500lbs. For example, my current rig has a GCWR of 5020lbs and two 3500lb axles on the trailer for total braking of 12,000lbs. Combined, the stopping distance is shorter then with the truck alone because of the extra weight/traction on the truck keeping the abs from kicking in as quick.
In reality, when towing a trailer and especially in a panic stop when the trailer brakes engage extra trailer weight is transferred to the hitch/truck because of the momentum of the mass above the trailer axles. Contrary to what many believe here, the truck will not break, explode, destruct because of the momentary overload.
In reality, when towing a trailer and especially in a panic stop when the trailer brakes engage extra trailer weight is transferred to the hitch/truck because of the momentum of the mass above the trailer axles. Contrary to what many believe here, the truck will not break, explode, destruct because of the momentary overload.
